Make Me Understand

Chapter 7

Winter fidgeted in her seat, looking everywhere to avoid the eyes of the people in front of her.

She's simply sitting in a single sofa, hands on her lap, feet close against each other.

"Ano ba, tinatakot n'yo naman eh." Giselle scolded her friends as she put the tray of hot chocolates above the center table.

Hindi umalis sa sahig yung tatlo at nakatitig padin kay Winter habang kinukuha yung mga inumin nila.

They can't believe it.

They can't believe that Karina is indeed right. Winter is way too far from the old Winter they know. The gangster, troublemaker, and problematic student they know.

It's raining outside, just like yesterday, and they're inside Karina's unit.

Why, you ask? Especially Winter.

Karina is sick. Obviously because they walked under the rain and Winter feels responsible for it so she decided to visit her neighbor and bring her soup and fruits. To her surprise, Giselle is the one who opened the door for her and told her to come inside since Karina is still sleeping.

Winter hesitated but Giselle's presence feels safe, as odd as it may sound, and Winter finds her a good person so she accepted the invitation.

Not even a minute later, Lia, Ningning, and Yeji arrived and that's how they ended up in their current situation.

Kai and Felix are busy. They always are. It's always the girls who hangs out together but that doesn't make them less of a friend.

Tumayo yung tatlo, "I'm Lia." she offered a handshake and Winter accepted it, mumbling her own name.

"Yeji. It's nice to meet you, Winter."

"Ako si Ningning!" Winter also shook her hand, "Ang lambot! Pwede paamoy?"

Before she could even do it, Giselle already pulled her to sit on the couch across Winter and the other two followed.

"I'm sorry, kulang talaga lagi sa kain 'yan." Giselle apologetically said, "I'm Giselle by the way. It's nice to meet you, Winter."

"S-salamat." nahihiyang sabi ni Winter, feeling overwhelmed by their 'too' friendly approach towards her. "Alis na ako."

Agad tumayo si Ningning, "No!"

Pinandilatan s'ya ng mga kaibigan n'ya kaya agad n'yang dinagdag, "I... I mean... Si Karina pinunta mo 'di ba?"

"Opo, pero tulog daw s'ya."

"Tulog? Hindi ah, nag-aayos lang yun at kakagising n'ya lang. 'Di ba?" she asked Yeji before looking at Lia, "'Di ba, Lia?" pinandilatan n'ya 'to ng mata.

"Ako? Ay, si Karina?" natatangang tanong n'ya bago tumingin kay Winter, "Ah, oo. Tawagin ko lang." she stand up to go to Karina's room.

"Lia, no. May sakit yung tao eh." saway ni Giselle bago pa man s'ya makaalis.

"Gi? Oh, guys, why are you here?"

Nagliwanag ang mukha ni Lia at Ningning bago tumakbo kay Karina para yakapin s'ya, not even thinking na baka mahawa sila.

"My bestie! Kamusta pakiramdam mo? Sabi sainyo gising 'to eh!" Ningning teased them.

"Hindi ka nagsasabi may sakit ka, kay Giselle pa namin nalaman!" Lia whined.

They're clinging onto her as Karina's eyes landed on Winter who has been looking at her since she entered the scene.

"Winter?" kumawala s'ya sa pagkakayakap ng dalawa sakan'ya para lapitan ang bisita.